Elastic-fluid turbine.



PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

W. A. NUSSBAUMER.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.24,190 6.

4 SHEETS SHEET 1- n 1 W my M "a m W. A. NUSSBAUMER.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.24,1906.

PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nok 849,420. PATENTED APR. 9, 1907. W.- A. NUSSBAUMER. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.24,1906.

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vlmrroe yn PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

W. A. NUSSBAUMBR. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 24, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEE1 4.

of the turbine.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. NUSSBAUMER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed Iieoambor 24,1906. Serial No. 849,286-

. ing had to the accompanying drawings, formingra part thereof.

he main objects of this invention are to convert the energy developed in the drop of steam or other motive fluid from a higher to a lower pressure or temperature into mechanical work to the greatest advantage and with the greatest economy, to so combme the principles of im ulse and reaction turbines as to eliminate t e disadvantages and retaln the advantages of each of said types, and

generally to improve the construction and operation of englnes of this class.

By the'term impulse-turbine is intended a turbine of the De Laval type, in which the pressure of the motive fluid does not change, but its velocity is reduced in fpassing or acting upon each series or set 0 vanes, and b the term reaction-turbine is intende a turbine of the Parsons ty e, in .Which the pressure of the motive fiui is reduced or falls-in passing or acting upon each series or set of vanes.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the peculiar arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter particularly described, and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters designate the same or similar parts in the several figures.

Figure Tie a View, partly in side elevation and partlyinvertical axial section, of oneform of steam-turbine embodyin the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the same, t e left-hand side being an end elevation and the right-hand side avertical cross-section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fi 3 is a partial axial section on the broken Tine 3 3, Fig. 4, of a modified form Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the same on the line 4 4, Fig. 3; and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are partial axial sections, on a reduced scale, of other modifications also embodying the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a designates the casing of the turbine mounted on a base I) and provided in the ends with stuffing-boxes c and d. The rotating part of the turbine com rises a shaft e, passing throu h the stuffing-fi oxes c and d and supported f and g, which are mounted on the base 6, an im ulse-wheel or highpressure member h and a reaction or low-pressure member m fixed on said shaft within the casing. The impulse-wheel or high-pressure member h, which in the present instance is made .in the form of a disk, is provided with two concentric circular series or rows of vanes or buckets i, which in the present case are attached to one side of the wheel or disk near its periphery. The reaction or low-pressure member m, constructed in the present case in the form of a hollow drum or cylinder, is provided on the outside with several concentric circular series of vanes or buckets j, increasing in size from left to right according to the customar practice in turbines of the Parsons or reactlon t e. The casin is provided with a series of sltationai'y guife-vanes or buckets is, arranged between the two series or rows of movable vanes iof the impulse wheel or member h, but extending only part way around it, as shown in Fi 2. The casing, which is made to co orm a proximately with the im ulse wheel or dis h and with the drum m o the reaction or low-pressure member, which is of considerably smaller diameter than said disk, is also provided with several series of fixed vanes or buckets 1, arranged concentric with and in position to direct the steam or other motive fluid at the proper angle against the successive series or sets of movable vanes of said reaction or lowressure member: etween the impulse or igh-pressure member h and the reaction or low-pressure member m of the turbine a receiver or chamber n is rovided toreceive steam 'dischar ed from t e inner series of vanes of the hig -pressure member and deliver it at the same ressure to the entire first series of vanes o the low-pressure member, said chamber extending completely around the drum m and also communicatin with the inclosed space on the opposite side 0 the wheel or disk The casin also forms or incloses at the end next to t e impulse wheel a cylindrical piston-chamber 0 and at the opposite end an exhaust-chamber in communication withthe delivery end 0 the lowressure member. Upon theu per art of t e casing, over the impulse-w eel is mounteda steam-chest g, with which the,

y bearingsmay 1 steam-supplypipe r connects. A series of nozz es 8 may beconveniently formed, as

shown, in a segment of a ring which is fitted and secured in the upper part of the casing a adjacent to the periphery of the impulsewheel, and tothis segment the stationary buckets or guide-vanes k are attached. An suitable form of valve mechanism employed to control and regulate the supply of motive fluid from the steam-chest to t %.i1-6 turbine. As suitab e for the purpose that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 will be briefly described, although no claim thereto is made herein.

In the steam-chest a roller u is carried in a swinging frame or i orked arm 4:, which is fixed on a shaft w, assing through a stuffingbox in one side 0 the steam-chest and provided at its outer end with a pinion a; or other suitable means for turning it. The openings or ports through which the passages -t communicate at their upper ends with the steam-chest are arranged m a curved face concentric with the axis of the shaft w, and a flexible band-valve y, attached at one end to the pe hery of said roller and at the other and to lt ie curved port face, is adapted to and ogpnsaid ports one after another,

the shaft to eing turned in the proper directien to unwind or wind said band-valve on said roller.

ports 0 ning into the passages 23 from the steam-c est, the roller u is rovided at one end with a 'spurear or test 2, which mesh with a rack 2 in t e steam-chest. The valve mechanism above mentioned may be 0 rated manually for r ulating the sup 1y 0 steam to the turbine or difierent 10 s, or it may be operated automatically by a connection through the pinion a; and a rack 3 witlr a centrifugal governor 4 of any suitable construction, geared or otherwise connected with the shaft 6.

To avoid or reduce loss of power on account of the ventilating action of the imulse-wheel running at a high velocity in a body of steam under pressure, the inactive movable vanes 'i, or those which are not suplied by the nozzles s with steam, are covered by a stationary plate or shield 5, which separates them from the body of steam in the receiver or chamber n.

In a turbine having its parts constructed and arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 there isan end thrust on the reaction or low-pressure member m toward the exhaust chamber or passe To balance this end thrust, the impu se-wheel it has a larger area exposed to the psure in chamber n on the side next e impulse or high-pressure member of To prevent the band-valve from buckling and to insure it tightly closing the oi guide-vanes into the e to the reaction member m than on the opposite side and a piston 6 is attached to the impulse-wheel h and fitted to tum and move endwise in the chamber 0, labyrinthine or other suitable packing being interposed between said piston and the surrounding wall of said chamber, which is connected with the exhaust chamber or passage p at the opposite end of the turbine by pipes 7 passing through the drum m of the low-pressure member.

' The unbalanced pressure area of the impulsewheei h, exposed to receiver-pressure, balances the and thrust produced by the action of the steam on the vanes of the reaction member, while the piston 6 balances the end thrust on the drum of the reaction member.

The turbine constructed as hereinbefore described operates as follows: Steam being admitted through the supply-piper into the steam-chest g, passes thence, as indicated by arrows on Figs. 1 and 2, throu h the open passa es t to the nozzles s, by w ich it isdiroots at the proper angle against the outer or first series of movable vanes .t'. In the nozzles a certain amount of the otential energy of the steam is transforme into kinetic energy, which in turn is converted into mechanical work by the movable and fixed ids-vanes of the im also member of the turine, the nozzles an vanes being so shaped and proportioned that the steam is expanded as it issues from the nozzles to a pressure producing a velocity which will be spent by 1ts impact a ainst the vanes in doing mechanical wor without material change in the pressure of the steam. The steam acting at high pressure on the impact or impulse rinclple without material change in pressure 1n the first stage or stages of its operation, the number of series or sets of vanes that can be practicably utilized in connection with the impulse or hi h-pressure member of the turbins is limits and will not ordinarily exceed two sets of movin vanes to each im ulsewheel with a single intervening series 0 fixed guide-vanes, which serve sim 1y to chan e the direction of the flow o steam. The steam entering the receiver or chamber n and fillin the inclosed s ace on both sides of the impu se-wheel h un er the pressure at which it is delivered from the nozzles s is delivered at that pressure all around the drum m of the lowressure member to the entire series of fixe and movable vanes Z and j successively from left to right, 'escapin from the last set aust space or passage p. All the available ener of the steam remaining after it has acts upon the impulse or high-pressure mem r of the turbine is thus exerted and spent simultaneously upon the several entire series of vanes of the reaction or low-pressure member, so that the entire energy develciped by the drop m pressure or temperature 0 the steam from IIO its admission to its exhaust from the'tnrbinep tion-turbine or turbine of the low-pressure member is materially reduced,

thus reducing the total size of the engine in proportion tothe power developed, besides attaining much greater economy in the application of the steam as Well as in the mechanical construction of the engine.

A slight decrease in the speed of the turbine under an increase of load causes the governor 4 to swing the roller it toward the fixed end of the band-valve 1 thereby openin additional passages t one after another an admitting steam to more nozzles until the turbine has attained its normal speed under the increased load. Upon a decrease in the load and a corresponding acceleration in the speed of the engine the governor swings the roller u in a reverse direction, thereby closing the steam-passages one after another and cut: ting o the supply of steam to the corresponding nozzles until the speed of the turbine has been lowered to its normal rate. By this mode of regulation throttling of the steam-supply, which is a wasteful and unsatisfactory mode of regulation, is avoided, and more or less nozzles are fully su plied with steam at the pressure forwhic they are specially designed to operate with the best effect and greatest economy.

Thepiston-chamber 0 being connected with the exhaust space or passage p at the o posite end of the turbine, the impulse- W eel h having a greater area exposed to receiver-pressure on the side next to the reaction or low-pressure member m than on the op osite side, and the balance-piston 6 being su 'ected to exhaust-pressure, the end thrust of t e steam on the lowpressure member is equalized, and the turbine is thus balanced under all loads and conditions. The two stuffing-boxes c and d at opposite ends of the casing are also subjected, by reason of the abovementioned balancing connections, to the same pressure and Working conditions, and this is an important advantage in both the construction and the operation of the turbine.

The essential features of the invention may be embodied in engines varying Widely as to details of construction and arrangement of parts. For example, the high and low pressure members may be compounded or made up of one or more elements, the direction of the flow of steam in either the high or low pressure part of the turbine may be radial (inward or outward) or axial, and the balanclng of the end thrust on the rotary parts of the turbine may be effected in various wa s.

vanes 1'. i and the intermediate series of fixe guide-vanes is, together with the steam-chest and nozzles, are arranged for the flow of steam in an axial direction with relation to the impulse or highressure member, while in place of a cylin or or drum provided on its periphery with several coaxial circular series of vanes, as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, the lowpressure member consisting of a disk 1h, provided on each of its opposite sides with a number of concentric circular series of vanes k alternating with correspondin series of fixed fiuldG-VBJIGS Z, is substitute In this case t e supply of steam from the receiver n to the low-pressure member is divided, a part being delivered directly from the receiver to the inner series of vanes on the near side of said disk and a part bein delivered by conduits 8, passing through t e exhaust-space p to the inner series of vanes on the far side of said disk as indicated b arrows on Fig. 3.

This form of turbine is balanced without a special piston for the purpose.

Referring to Fig. 5, the turbine is provided with two separate impulse or high-pressure wheels, each furnished with a regulated supply of steam from a steam-chest substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the steam-chest q of the second impulse-wheel or intermediate member being su plied through a passage 9 from the first receiver n with steam which has acted on the first impulse-wheel.

Referring to Fig. 6, thevanes of the impulse eferring to Figs. 3 and 4, the movi or highressure member of the turbine are arrangec for the axial flow of steam substantially as shown in Fig. 3. The low-pressure member is of the drum type; but the drum m is made of larger diameter at the exhaust than at the admission end to admit of locating the balanceiston 6 at the exhaust end of the turbine am connecting the chamber in which it works with the receiver-chamber n at the opposite end of the turbine.

Referring to Fig. 7, the low-pressure member of the turbine consists in this case of a disk provided with vanes on one side only. The balance-piston 6 is attached to said disk and works in a chamber which is connected by an outside pipe, as indicated by dotted lines, with the receiver n.

Referring to Fig. 8, both the hi h and low pressure members are constructe for radial flow of steam, the flow being inward with relation to the hi h-pressure member and outward with relatlon to the low-pressure member. In this case the balance-piston e is attached to the high-pressure member, and the chamber in which it works is connected by a pi e, as indicated dotted lines, withthe e aust space or chamber p at the-opposite end of the turbine.

Referring to Fig. 9, the low-pressure member consistsof a disk provided on oppositesides with vanes, substantially as shown in Fig. 3; but in this case the vanes'on' one side- 7 of the diskare su plied through conduits 10,

- tion of coaxial rotary impulse and reactionassing through t eexhaust space or cham-' er with steam which has acted upon and is disc arged from the vanes on the other side of the disk.

In. the several forms or modifications of the turbine herein shown and described the principles -involved and the mode of'operation. are essentially thesame. In each case the impulse or hi h-pressure member is partially supplied wit steam-acting against its vanes members each provided with vanes arran d in concentric circular series, a casing mo osing sa1d members and provided with fixed guide-vanes arranged in concentric series" to cooperate with the movable vanes of. the rotary members, nozzles arranged to deliver motive fluid to the vanes o the impulse member within a art only of their circuit, a chamber arrange to receive the motive fluid from the im ulse member and to deliver it to the vanes o the reaction member throughout their entire circuit, and a balance-piston at one end of the rotat'mgpart of the turbine connected with the motive-fluid space towhich the oppjosite end of said rotating part is exposed, su stantially as described.

2. In an elastic-fluid turbine the combination of high and low pressure rotary members each provided with vanes arranged in circular series, a casing inclosing said membersand provided with fixed vanes arranged in concentric series to cooperate with the movable vanes of the rotary members, a series of nozzles arranged in: the arc of a circle to deliver motive fluid, to the vanes ot the high-pressure member'within a part only of their-circuit,a chamber arranged to receivemotive fluid from; the high-pressure member and to deliver it to the vanes of-the low-pressure member throughout their entire circuit,-

and a shield or partition separating the inactive vanesof the high-pressure member the motive fluid contained in said receiverchamber, substantially as described.

3. In an. elastic-flu1d turbme the combination of a casing having etching-boxes in the ends, and a piston-chamber at one end connected with the motive-fluid space at theother end, arotary shaft passing through said stuffing-boxes, high and low pressure members mounted on said shaft within the casing and each provided with vanes arranged in circular series, nozzles arranged to deliver motive fluid simultaneously to apart only of the vanes of the high-pressure member, a chamber arran ed to receive the motive fluid from the big =pressure. member and to deliver it simultaneously to the entire initial series of vanes of the-ilow-pressure member, and a balance-piston connected with the rotary part of. the turbine and fitted in said piston-c amber, substantially as described.

4. In an elastic-fluidturbinethe combination of a casing having stufling-boxes in the ends, an exhaust-chamber in one end. and a piston-chamber inthe other end connected with said exhaust-chamber, a rotary shaft passing axially through said casing and:-stufilug-boxes, highand low pressure members mounted on said shaft and each provided with vanes arranged in circular series, nozzles arranged to deliver, motive fluid to a part only of the vanes of the hi h-pressure member, a chamber within sai to receive the motive fluid from-the highpressure member and to deliver it simultaneously to all the vanes of the first series of said lowressure member, and a balanceistonfitte in said piston-chamber and attac ed to one of said rotary members, substantially as described. V

5. In an elastic-fluid turbine the. combination of a rotary impulse-wheel provided with vanes arranged in circular series, a coaxial reaction-wheel provided on one side with vanes arranged in a number of concentric circular series, a casing inclosing said wheels and provided with. guide-vanes arranged to cocperate with the vanes 0t said impulse and reaction wheels, the guide-vanesfor the re-.- action-wheel being arranged in a number of circular series one within another'and concentric with the series of movable vaneson' casing arranged.

said reaetion=wheel, whereby the motive fluid is caused to flow in an approximately radial direction from each inner series to the next outer series, means for supplying motive fluid to a part onlyot the vanes of the impulse-wheel, and a chamber arranged to receive the motive fluid from'the impulse-.

wheel and to deliver it simultaneously to the entire inner series of. vanes. of the reactionwheel, substantiall as described. 1

6. In an elasticuid turbine the combination of a rotary part comprising high and low pressure members each provided with vanes arranged in circular series, a casing inclosing said rotary part with a piston-chamber and a chamber arranged to receive motive fluid from the high-pressure member and deliver it all around to the lowressure member, said casingbeing provide with fixed vanes arranged in series concentricwithand adj acent to the series of movable vanes, a series of nozzles extending part way around the high-pressure member and adapted to deliver motive fluid to its vanes, and a balancepiston attached to the rotary part and fitted in said piston-chamber which communicates with a part of the turbine in which the mo-' tive-fluid ressure is such as acting upon said piston W1 1 equalize the otherwise unbalanced end pressure on said rotary part, subr stantially as described.

7. In an elastic-fluid turbine the combination of coaxial rotary impulse and reaction members, means for supplying motive fluid to the vanes of the impulse member, and a chamber arran ed to receive the motive fluid from the im uIse member and deliver it to the vanes 0 the reaction member, the impulse member having an unbalanced pressure area exposed to the motive fluid in said chamber and tending to balance the end thrust on the reaction member, substantially as described.

8. In an elastic-fluid turbine the combination of coaxial rotary impulse and reaction members each provided with vanes arranged in circular series, a casing inclosing said mem bers and provided with guide-vanes arranged to cooperate with the vanes of the rotary members, means for su plying motive fluid to the vanes of the impu se member, a chamber arranged to receive the motive fluid from the impulse member and to deliver it to the vanes of the reaction member, and a balancing-piston attached to one end of the rotating part of the turbine and Working in a chamber which is connected with the motive-fluid space to which the opposite end of said rotating part is exposed, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. NUSSBAUMER.

Witnesses:

"CHAS. L. Goss,

A. F. WEST. 

